This Day In Cavs History: LeBron James Arrives 20 Years Ago In The NBA
Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, Spencer Davies is going to turn back the clock to milestone moments and important dates in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ past with “This Day In Cavs History.” Whether they’ve been good or bad, these events were significant in the franchise’s 53-year existence.
Time flies when you’re having fun.
With the calendar flipped to Oct. 29, 2023, it officially marks two decades since LeBron James first stepped foot on an NBA floor. The King made his professional debut 20 years ago on the road, ironically against the Sacramento Kings, and basketball fans all around the world were glued to their television sets to watch it.
Maybe the most hyped-up high school hooper in the history of the sport, and possibly the most intriguing amateur prospect in sports history, LeBron introduced himself to the league with a loud performance that let everybody know: “I’m here.”
LeBron began the game with an alley-oop over the top to Ricky Davis for a slam. He then nailed multiple baseline jumpers, floated and finished in the paint with forward momentum and intercepted Peja Stojakovic in the middle of the floor before throwing down his now-signature right-handed tomahawk on a fastbreak. And just seconds later, he pickpocketed Doug Christie, received a full-court pass from Carlos Boozer and underhand fed Davis for a reverse dunk.
The first quarter offered an all-encompassing taste of what he would bring to the table. LeBron was unselfish in finding his teammates with innate vision, imposing his will as a scorer and showcasing unearthly athleticism.
Though it stung for the Cavs to lose that night, LeBron finished the night with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, four steals and only turned it over twice.
LeBron was deemed The Chosen One for a reason. We were all witnesses of a superstar that night, but it was only an appetizer for what was to come over the course of his career the next two decades.
LeBron James throws down his first signature tomahawk dunk in Sacramento.
Rocky Widner/Getty Images
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer. A four-time NBA champion, Finals Most Valuable Player and MVP. Nineteen All-NBA selections. A 19-time All-Star and three-time All-Star MVP. A six-time All-Defensive Team selection. The 2003-04 Rookie of The Year. The 2007-08 scoring champion. The 2019-20 assist champion. A member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
LeBron broke his ceiling like no other athlete in the history of sports, and somehow, he still isn’t finished yet. It's terrific that the NBA scheduled the Los Angeles Lakers to face the Kings on Sunday night, as he'll return to where it all started.
Enjoy greatness while we still have it.
